Patrick Stewart dies at 86; colleagues remember stage and screen career

Patrick Stewart died at his Los Angeles home on October 28 at the age of 86, according to a statement released through his social media accounts on Thursday. His representatives said his wife, musician Sunny Ozell, was caring for him.

The statement disclosed that the actor had experienced Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia. He leaves Ozell and two children from his first marriage, Daniel Stewart and Sophie Alexandra-Stewart.

Colleagues from his film and television career shared tributes after the announcement. William Shatner praised the humanity of his performances, while Hugh Jackman remembered both their friendship and what he had learned from working alongside him.

A career rooted in Shakespeare

Patrick Stewart was born in Mirfield, Yorkshire, on July 13, 1940. A teacher introduced him to Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice during childhood, and he later became known for his work with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

His association with the company began in the 1960s and lasted 14 years. His stage roles included Mark Antony, Henry IV, Shylock and Oberon, before television brought his performances to a wider audience.

He became Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation at 47. The programme ran between 1987 and 1994, and he subsequently played the captain in films and the series Star Trek: Picard, which began in 2020.

Another major screen role followed with Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men films, beginning in 2000. His work also included voice performances across animation and a Grammy-winning recording of Peter and the Wolf in 1996.

Queen Elizabeth II knighted Stewart for services to drama at Buckingham Palace in 2010. Fellow actor Ian McKellen also paid tribute, recalling their longstanding friendship and Stewart's enduring connection to Yorkshire.

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